Originally Posted by oyster_gold

Slow day so a few thoughts...

TG has a reputation for dismissing American made cars in general. You can jump up and down and call it an SLK all you want (a very old SLK at that. I actually don't like to advertise that its a R170 in disguise and if you ever owned or drove one, you'd agree I'm sure.) but its a Chrysler Crossfire. Not to digress, but I had two local Mercedes dealers refuse to service my car, not out of 'snobishness', but because it's a Chrysler... different service manuals, procedures, maybe even different special tools (and yes, they were very well aware its essentially an SLK (those with issues with this please take it up with Mercedes, not me.)

TG has dumped on the Mustang GT500, Vettes, Vipers, Challengers etc (and all arguably more purest performance cars than our beloved little XF) because TG loves to dump on the US in general. Any long time viewer knows that. Is it tongue in cheek, a bit of British sarcasm? Perhaps, although my British friends say its more of an elitist, anti-American sentiment (we're all fat and stoopid and shop at WalMart, right?).

Its a well known fact that Clarksons most beloved marque (aside from Jag) is Mercedes. Its possible that the Crossfire essentially being an SLK (I wont belittle my car and call it a rebadged SLK because its not) is what he deems an affront to his favorite auto manufacturer.
It burns every Brit to the core that Jaguar was saved by Ford and is now owned by an Indian company so a bit of lashing out is to be expected.

I also think its strange that folks think TG is a 'real' automotive magazine television show. Its not. Its an entertainment show that revolve around 3 guys who do silly car stunts and sometimes drive cars most of us can't afford really fast.

But, sometimes the truth hurts. The Crossfire has always been a love/hate emotionally based styled car. When I look at the profile I see one of the sexiest sports cars ever made, period. Clarkson on the other hand thinks it looks like a dog in the middle of a bowel movement. He also thinks the steering wheel is too big...it is, but I think it lends to the whole 'deco' vibe this car has. Every time I drive my Crossfire I am transported to an alternate history set in the 30's where I work on the top floor of the Chrysler building and eat dinner in its Cloud Club, drive to the rigid airship field in my Crossfire...you get the idea. I prefer my vision over Clarksons but then I own a Crossfire and he doesn't.

The part that hit me the hardest wasn't what was said but what wasn't said, when the less than stellar manual transmission was mentioned, James May simply shook his head in disgust. Coming from May, you can rest assured that part was real.

I've always been in the minority on this board when it comes to the Mercedes connection. I would have much preferred the Crossfire to be more Chrysler than Mercedes, like the Charger, but it is what it is. I think its a damn sexy car that is very fun to drive.

To wrap up, TG came back in a different episode and chose the Crossfire roadster over a TT and another one (can't remember).

Millions of Mustang owners aren't losing sleep over a TG segment mocking their cars...neither will I.